Threat Of Accident Rides With Motorcycle Officers

August 4, 1989|By Nancy Imperiale Of The Sentinel Staff

Sanford motorcycle Officer Gordon Reid was heading down 25th Street on July 3 when an emergency call made him change directions. Switching lanes, Reid's cycle struck the right fender of a car. The officer was thrown onto the street.

One month later, Reid still hasn't awakened from the blow that cracked his helmet down the middle. Besides the concussion, the 40-year-old police officer has had three bouts of pneumonia and at least two operations to reattach his left ankle, which was nearly severed.

His comrades are still hopeful that Reid, a 10-year veteran of the Sanford force and a motorcycle officer for two years, will be back on duty soon.

''Every day he's showing more and more improvement,'' said Capt. Herbert Shea. ''He's not conscious, but he's doing conscious things.''

Reid has opened his eyes several times, Shea said, and has squeezed doctors' hands and moved his limbs on command.

''He's also showing signs of feeling,'' Shea said.

Although Reid's care is covered by insurance, police have opened a fund at Sun Bank to help the officer's wife, Martha, with other expenses.

Merchants have donated chicken and hamburgers for a barbecue dinner in Reid's honor at 6 p.m. today at the Sanford Police Benevolent Association on U.S. Highway 17-92. Proceeds from the $10 per plate affair will be donated to Reid, police said.

The accident that injured Reid is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Although it appears that Reid was at fault when he switched lanes into the other car's path, troopers need to question the officer before they can know exactly what happened.

It wasn't Reid's first accident. Three months ago, he suffered a fractured hand when a car turned in front of him and struck his cycle on French Avenue.

Police say accidents are all too common for motorcycle officers.

''Everyone we've got riding has been in accidents,'' Shea said.

''Basically, it's a very unfortunate thing, and it just comes along with riding one of the things,'' said Lt. Doug Bishop, who commands Sanford's eight-member motorcycle force.

Bishop said he questioned his officers after Reid's accident, to make sure they still felt comfortable riding cycles, and to see if they felt safe in new helmets that partially restrict side vision.

Several officers complained that they could not see because the helmets cover more of their heads than older models. But the $520 helmets, with speakers built inside, are designed to free riders' hands, Bishop said, adding that officers can turn their heads and still see.

Motorcycle duty is voluntary in Sanford, where officers must take a cycle safety course and answer other questions.

''One of the things we ask them is how their spouses or girlfriends feel about it, because it could lead to problems on down the road if they're against it,'' said Bishop, who rode cycles for 14 years before stopping six years ago.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office dropped its motorcycle officer program several years ago, after numerous accidents.

''Officers have absolutely no protection,'' on a motorcycle, said Capt. Roy Hughey. ''The sheriff decided the degree of injuries didn't equal out to the advantages.''

But Seminole's seven cities all employ motorcycle officers, who can navigate traffic better, are less visible and thus better able to catch traffic offenders, and who like the feel of the open road, police said.

Casselberry has three officers, and three recent accidents on file, said Police Chief Fred McGowan. One of the city's motorcycle officers had to retire from police work after an accident ruined his knee, McGowan said. The duty is voluntary, he added.

''Most of these guys who ride motors wouldn't have it any other way.''

Longwood Sgt. Tom Jackson agreed.

Jackson hit a Toyota while going 60 mph in 1985. He flew from his cycle, over the car and skidded several yards down the street before hitting a concrete curb. He suffered a cracked vertebra, broken teeth, a broken thumb, a broken toe, and permanent nerve damage to one portion of his head.

Yet he's still riding today, along with two others on the Longwood motorcycle force.

''It's the bright part of a tedious job that nobody appreciates,'' Jackson said.